A Picture of Subsidized Households Detailed Explanation of the Variables

A Picture of Subsidized Households Detailed Explanation of the Variables

The file is delimited ASCII, with double quotes around text fields (i.e., the fields "name" and "code"), and commas separating all fields, so they can be read directly by most programs. At the same time, the file is in fixed format, so it can be read by programs that need fixed formats. We have kept the record length under 240 characters (which is a limit in Lotus) since we expect some users will use Lotus.

Layout of Report and Computer File

Total of all housing agencies of a particular size. Actual size is shown in name and at end of record. Only covers programs run by housing agencies*. Agency is classified based on total units in all programs.

State total, also used for DC and outlying areas

Housing agency total*

Summary record for part of an agency: for a few agencies that administer several codes.*

In these agencies with multiple codes we show totals separately (summary level 5), and also a grand total under one code (summary level 4). In simpler agencies we just show the grand total (summary level 4).

Project record (not for Certificates+Vouchers, Moderate Rehabilitation) A 'project' is a building or group of buildings funded at about the same time.

Census tract summary

A Census tract is an area of about 1,500 homes, chosen by local communities in cooperation with the Census Bureau, as an area that is somewhat homogeneous socioeconomically. Maps were published by the 1990 Census, showing tract boundaries

Programs are in the second column. Key values differ between file and report:

* Note that programs 6–9, (S–L) are not included in housing agency summaries, since they are independently managed.

Address & City

name

5

32

Name of the project, agency, state, or size class.

For summary level 5, part of an agency this item gives a cross-reference to another record where one can find the total of the agency. For example the level 5 record for MD 902 shows "IN MD901" since both are run by the Maryland state housing agency and the total data are given in the level 4 record for MD 901. The total and the part may be identical, when two codes have been assigned to the agency, but only one is in use.

For summary level 6, projects: name is in the first 12 characters of this item, a brief address is in the second 12 characters and city is in the last 8.

For summary level 7 in program 4 (C), Census tracts in Certificates+Vouchers this item shows: county and tract, in the format: "Cert+Vch:county123 1234.67tract"

For summary level 7 in program 1 (A), Census tract summaries across all programs, this item shows: population, renter households, and percent in various programs, in the format: "12345pop 2345ren 12P 12C 12H 12L". The abbreviations are as ab ove, except H is a total of programs 6, 7 and 8 (S, T and F).

Code

code

40

11

Project code or number: This always starts with a 2–letter state abbreviation (RQ for Puerto Rico, as used in most HUD project numbers).

In summary levels 1–3, this code has a very brief label, like AL for Alabama. For other summary levels, the meaning varies by program:

In program 1 (A: i.e., for tract summaries that include all programs present in the tract), this code shows: state, tilde (~), HUD units as % of housing units in the tract in 1990, and number of housing units in the tract in 1990, like "AL~12% 1234 "

In programs 2–5 (B, P, C, K) this code shows: state abbreviation, then blank and agency#, then blank and project# if any, like: "AK 001 001" In program 2 or B, an M after the project# (in the 11th character) means Mutual Ownership.

In program 6 or S this code shows: state, 2–digit HUD office, and project number, like "AK01R123456"

In programs 7–8, (T, F) this code shows: state, underline, 3–digit HUD office and project number, like "AK_11144666" For this group, if state was unknown, we generated it from the HUD field office code. There may be some errors where offices cross state l ines.

In program 9 or L this code shows: state, curly bracket ({), then state-defined project ID, if any, like "AK{87–123"

Units Available

units

53

7

Number of units: Units under contract and available for occupancy.

This count is not as recent as the tenant data: it is as of 9/30/95, except in Tax Credits it is 12/94.

If an agency overall has more Certificates+Vouchers than it reports on, we assume each tract has extra Certificates+Vouchers in the same proportion (but we assume no more than twice as many in a tract as the number reported).

The number of units was missing and had to be estimated for a few projects. In Tax Credits, when we show 35 units we had no data (and used 35 since it is the national average); projects which truly had 35 or 36 units are shown as 36. In Ofc. of Housing (programs 6–8 or S–F), 66 units mean we had no data (and used 66, the national average); 67 means actually 66 or 67. In Public & Indian Housing, zero units are shown for 95 projects. It is believed most are not active project numbers. font>

%Occupied

occ

61

2

Occupied units as % of available. This is valid in program 3 (P: Public Housing).

Elsewhere no data are actually available, and numbers are assumed, purely for calculating reporting rates: In program 6 (S) occupancy rates are stipulated at 98%, and in programs 7–8 (T, F) at 96% (Wallace 1993, page 2–27, though his figures are based on rent revenue, and occupancy is less). In other programs we stipulate 99%, since almost all units are assumed occupied.

%Reported

rep

64

2

Reported units, as % of occupied

%<1Yr

mover

67

2

% in program less than a year. If it is 100% or 0%, the project has reported only admissions, or no admissions, either of which is usually a data quality problem

Fam.Size

size

70

3

Average size of household, with decimal point & decimal place (for example 2.5). To find the number of people served by the agency, multiply this size by units available and % occupied.

Av.Rent

rent

74

3

Average gross household rent per month.

This includes rent the household pays to the agency or landlord, and an estimate of any separately metered utilities they pay (and also ownership costs in Indian ownership programs).

Based on households with rent in the range $1–$2,498; other rents are considered errors.

This is item 14 on form HUD–50058 (highest of: 10% of gross income, 30% of adjusted income, or welfare rent), except in vouchers, where it is item 22k (total family contribution), and Indian Mutual, where it is item 17h (family cost).

Av.Income

incom

78

3

Average total household income. This is shown in thousands of dollars per year, with decimal point.

This is basically total income before adjustments, but it does exclude some types of income which HUD regulations do not count at all, such as earnings of minors, and scholarships.

% $20,000 or more (you can get the category $10–19,999 by subtraction)

%Wages

wage

91

2

% Majority of household's income comes from wages and/or business

%Welf

welf

94

2

% Majority of household's income comes from welfare (AFDC or General Assistance, not Supplemental Security Income).

Note that remaining households have majority of income from another source, such as pensions, Social Security, SSI, unemployment benefits or child support, or have a mixture, with no type giving a majority of income

Incm.Mix

mix

97

2

Income mix as percent of average income. The larger the number, the more income mix.

This is the coefficient of variation, which is the standard deviation of income, as a percent of the average income. The standard deviation measures how far each household's income is from the average income. Incomes that are far above or be low average have large effects, since the differences are squared before being averaged.

%Age<25

a24

100

2

% Under age 25: age of head or spouse, whichever is older

%Age25–44

a44

103

2

% Age 25–44

%Age45–61

a61

106

2

% Age 45–61

%Age62+

a62

109

2

% Age 62+

%Age85+

a85

112

2

% Age 85+ (part of line above)

%Disab<62

d61

115

2

% With disability, as % of households below age 62 (includes households where either head or spouse has handicap or disability)

%Disab62+

d62

118

2

% With disability, as % of households age 62 or more

%Minority

min

121

2

% Minority

%Black

blac

124

2

% Black, not Hispanic

%Hispanic

hisp

127

2

% Hispanic (of any race)

%Nat.Amer

indn

130

2

% Native American

%Asin-Pac

asia

133

2

% Asian or Pacific Islander

Dif PR-HA

dif

136

2

Difference between project & agency in % Minority: measures extent to which subsidized minorities live in different places from subsidized whites. Scale is 0–50. The larger the number, the more separately whites & minorities live.

For Public Housing projects, this is the difference between: % minority for the project, and overall % minority for Public Housing at the agency. Difference is shown for each project (in absolute value). Average of these differences i s shown for each agency.

For Certificates+Vouchers (which do not have projects), difference is based on Census tracts with more than 10 households reported: average difference between: % minority among Certificates+Vouchers in the tract, and overall % minority among Certif icates+Vouchers at the agency.

Summaries of this item exclude agencies that are under 5% or over 95% minority, and agencies with only one project or tract, since there cannot be much difference there.

%0Bedroom

bed0

139

2

% 0 Bedrooms

%1Bedroom

bed1

142

2

% 1 Bedroom

%2Bedroom

bed2

145

2

% 2 Bedrooms

%3+Bedrms

bed3

148

2

% 3 Bedrooms or more

%2Sp+Chil

sp2

151

2

% Both spouses: married couple with 1 or more children under 18

%1Sp+Chil

sp1

154

2

% Spouse not present; but 1 or more children under 18 are present

%Female

fem

157

2

% Female head. This is bigger than single parents, since many elderly women are female heads, but have no children present.

%Br>Peopl

bedx

160

2

% Overhoused, with more bedrooms than people

%w/Assets

as

163

2

% With assets over $5,000. The denominator excludes households with assets over $200,000 (errors), but includes zeros, some of which may be errors.

Av.Assets

asav

166

2

Average assets, in thousands of dollars, among households with assets $5,000–$200,000

%w/Utilty

ut

169

2

% With valid utility allowance ($1–$1,000 are considered valid) This is an estimate of the utilities the household needs to pay to the utility company. It is zero if all utilities are included in rent.

Av.Utilty

utav

172

3

Average utility allowance, among households with it, in dollars per month

Yrs.Stay

stay

176

2

Average years since moved in. Excludes programs 4–5 (C, K), since move-in dates before 1993 are not known

Tract Single Family Owners: Households that are owner-occupants of single family detached homes, as % of households in Census tract that surrounds project. This counts owner-occupants in buildings with 1 unit, not townhouses, condominiums, or mobile h omes

MSA

msa

225

4

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA or PMSA). Code is unique within the United States.

0 means not in any metropolitan area (blank or -1 means status unknown)

8888 means more than one metro area applies.

MSA and PMSA (Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area) codes form one consistent series; the distinction is minor: PMSAs are pieces of even larger "Consolidated" areas (CMSAs), while MSAs are free-standing.

These are statistical areas established by the Office of Management and Budget. HUD has subdivided some for setting Fair Market Rents and Income Limits, and HUD's areas are not reflected here.

Place

place

230

4

Code for the city, town, or Census-defined place (such as a well-known locality that is not legally incorporated). Unique within state. 8888 means that more than one code applies.

Cong.Dist

cd

235

2

Congressional District, for the Congress elected in 1994. 88 means more than one district applies. Unique within state.